The moment an Airbus A340 was first landed in Antartica by a pilot is truly amazing.
Wolf’s Fang charters a cargo plane for supplies to their South Pole resort.
After an 2,800-mile trip from Cape Town, it took the plane just over five hours to reach its final destination.
Because of the harsh conditions at Wolf Fang, the runway is designated as a C Level Airport. This means that it can only be flown by highly-skilled pilots.
“The colder it is, the better,” said Captain Carlos Mipuri from specialist airline Hi Fly.
There are grooves carved into the runway at 10,000 feet. Before the plane arrives, a car specially equipped covers the entire length of strip.
Blue glacial ice can be withstanded by a full-loaded A340 without any problems. It is nearly a mile thick.
One of the most dangerous hazards, however is the glare from the snow or ice.
After a journey of 2,800 miles, the plane arrived at its destination on an icy runway in just five hours. Wolf’s Fang at South Pole is the charterer of the cargo jet. They are a luxury resort that brings supplies to the destination.
To report how cold the runway is, grooves have been carved in to the 10,000-foot track.
Blue glacial Ice is nearly a mile thick, and it can handle a loaded A340 without any problems
Approach into runway. According to the pilot, there is no visual guidance for glide slopes, and height judgments are difficult due to the blend of runway and surrounding terrain.
To give the plane better grip, grooves have been carved into runway surfaces
It is visible as the South Pole tents block the view of the plane coming to land.
“The reflections are tremendous and you need proper eyewear to adjust your vision between outside and inside. Mipuri explained that non-flying pilots play an important role during late stage approaches.
“There are no visual guides for the glide slope, and it is hard to judge height because of the terrain and immense white desert surrounding.
Pilot added that altimeters who work in cold conditions also have temperature errors and require adjustments.
Mipuri stated that the team used a ‘tactical approach’ to land and it went without any problems.
The A340 was his favorite aircraft. This environment is safe, stable, and robust.
Antartica’s first flight was made in 1928 by a Lockheed Vega 1 monoplane piloted and operated by George Hubert Wilkins (an Australian military pilot who also explorer).
After landing on Tuesday, the crew raises a banner in celebration of their record-breaking achievement.
Mipuri claimed that they had followed a “tactical approach” and the landing was successful.
A340 is a reliable aircraft that always delivers. It is robust, safe, and comfortable, which makes it a great choice for this type of environment.
After a few hours, the plane was back on the ground and returned to Cape Town.
As the huge jet arrives in Antartica, snow is blown up from the ground
The journey of his pilot was shorter than the A340’s, as he took off from South Shetland Islands (a small group of Antartic islands located just 70 miles away from the mainland).
William Randoplh Hearst (US publishing magnate) supported the project.
The short reconaissance flights such as these were crucial in mapping Antartica.
Antartica has no airport yet, however there are approximately 50 runways that researchers and visitors use.